Show-case refrigerator



AprilZZ, 1930. F. c. BECKER 1,755,384

SHOW CASE REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan. 20, 1928 EFA/VC/3 C. Elia/1 5 doors for access to the contents.

rails and Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED @STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS c. BECKER, or ST; LOUIS, mrssoimr, ASSIGNOR, BY'MESNE assmNmEN'rs,

To HUSSMANN-LIGONIER COMPANY, or sun. LOUIS, mIssoURI, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE Application filed January 20, 1928. Serial No. 243,049.

This invention pertains to showcase refrigerators, such as are used in retail establishments for displaying meats and other perishable foods, while at the same time re- 5 frigerating the same.

Such refrigerators are ordinarily provided with a transparent panel along the front thereof, so that the goods may be viewed by the customer. The rear is also provided with In .the usual design, two sets of doors are provided, an upper set mounted on a sloping rear face ofthe showcase, whereby the attendant may have access to the upper shelves. Lower doors are also rovided for access to the lower shelves. 'As t e depth of the showcase from front to rear is usually considerable, it becomes diflicult for the attendant toreach goods on the front of the lower shelf through the lower door. In most cases it is necessary for him to crawl partly into the compartment to reach goods on the' front shelf.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a shelf or tray which may be moved so as to render access to all parts thereof easy.

Another object is to provide such a movable tray and means for limiting the movement thereof, so as to prevent the tray being pulled clear out of the showcase.

Another object is to provide a construction for the .tray and its support which will maintain the tray in a horizontal position at all points ofits travel, so as to eliminate the danger of tipping the tray and dropping.

the goods. I a 7 Another object is to'provide such a movw ablectray with roller bearings, so as to render the same easy to move.

Further objects will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a showcase refrigerator embodying this invention; L c a Figures 2 and 3 are perspective details of the front and rear ends, respectively, of the Figure 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fi re 1.

Re erring to the accompan ing drawing, 1 designates a showcase, whic may be provided with one ormore front transparent panels 2 and transparent rear doors 3. An ice bunker or other refrigerating agent 4 is provided'for cooling the case. Upper shelves 5 are provided upon which goods may be placed which it is desired to display. These goods may be viewed through thefront panel 2. Access to the shelves 5 may be had through the doors 3. Alower shelf or tray 6 is usually provided on which goods are placed for storage. The goods on this shelf are usually not intended for display. A lower door 7 provides access to the shelf 6.

In accordance with the present invention, the shelf 6 is constructed in the form of a wire tray or basket constructed of heavy wires suitably formed'and welded or otherwise secured together at their crossing points. The rim of the tray is constructed inthe form of an angle iron frame 8,, which completely surrounds the tray and to which the wires thereof are welded or otherwise secured. The front end 9 of the tray may be left open for convenient access. J Mounted within the showcase and so as to bridge the same from front to rear, is a pair of rails 10, only one of which is shown in the drawing. These rails are constructed of channel form and mounted with the web ver- .7

tical and thecflanges extendin horizontally inwardly or toward'the tray. he rails may be secured in pdace in the showcase by bending outwardly portions 11 of the web or flanges to provide fastening elements which may be secured to the wall.

The tray is mounted in the rails 10 in such a way that the side members of the frame 8 are positioned between the horizontal flanges of thechannel so that the tray may he slid forward and back, these side members sliding betweensaidvflan es. Near. the forward end of each rail, the ower flange is cut and bent downwardly to form a bracket 12 upon which a roller 13 is mounted. Then per edge of this roller stands just above t e lower the tray will rest thereon. As the tray is pulled forward, it will roll on the rollers 13. The tray is so dimensioned and the rails are so positioned that, when the door 7 is open, the tray may be pulled rearwardly out of the case through the doorway. A pin 14 is loosely set in a hole in the upper flange of the rail, so that its end project's inside of the frame 8, the wire body of the tray being paced from the upstanding flange of the rim. This pin provides a stop adapted to limit the movement of the tray and prevent itsbeing pulled clear out of the case.

It will be seen that this invention provides a very simple and eflective means for obtaining access to the lower shelf of a showcase refrigerator. The operator may simply open the door 7 and slide-the tray out, whereupon the good's in any part of the tray become easily accessible. The tray is rigidly supported at all points and moves on anti-friction rollers. The frame of the tray rests on the lowerflange of the rails until it moves out far enough, so that the weight of the rear part overbalances that of the front as pivoted on the rollers 13, whereupon the tray tips up until the frame 8 engages the upper flanges of the rails. This prevents the tray from tipping forwardly when out of the case, so as to drop the goods on the floor. The pin 14: prevents pulling the tray completely out. Accordingly, the entire device may be handled rapidly, and carelessness on the part of the operator is guarded against. The tray is of sanitary construction, and by removing doorway communicating with a lower compartment thereof, and a tray mounted to slide into and out of said compartment through said doorway, said tray having a rim outstanding from the side thereof, and a stop mounted in said compartment so as to engage saidrim.

4. A show case refrigerator having a small doorway communicating with a lower compartment thereof, and a tray mounted to slide into and out of said compartment through said doorway, said tray having a rim outstanding from the side thereof, and a removable stop mounted in said compartment so as to engage said rim.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature this 30th day of December, 1927.

FRANCIS C. BECKER.

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the pin 14 may be entirely removed from the case for cleaning. Tts basket construction renders its light in weight, while at the same time it may be strong and rugged.

It is obvious that various changes may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is therefore to be understood that this invent-ion is not limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a showcase refrigerator having a door, a channeled rail mounted in the showcase, a tray mounted for movement on said rail and having a flange movable between and guided by the flanges of the channel so as to be supported against tipping, and a stop on one of said rail flanges and interlocking with said tray flange adapted to limit the travel of said tray.

2. Tn a showcase refrigerator, a tray havmg a bottom rim of angle section with a flange thereof upstanding, and a wire body secured thereto but spaced from'said flange at the side of the tray, in order to permit cooperation of said flange with a stop on the show case.

3. A showfease refrigerator having a small 

